Spotlight Russia: 7 golden travel tips

Men: don't be afraid to give a woman flowers. Men: don't be afraid to give men flowers, either. The custom is widespread.

By Steve Dorsey, for CNN

(CNN) -- What lies beyond Sochi?

Only the largest country in the world in terms of area.

Post-Olympics, should you find yourself stretching out to explore the rest of Russia -- especially Moscow and St. Petersburg -- a little cultural background can help you make the most of this dazzling land.

Chivalry rules

You can't miss them: flowers are everywhere in Russia, even in the bitterest cold.

Men give women flowers for almost any occasion -- it needn't signal romantic interest.

Women carrying huge bouquets down the street or in the Metro is a common sight.

St. Petersburg: 12 best sights in the city of the czars

Within the cathedral at the Peter and Paul Fortress lie sarcophagi containing the remains of most of the Romanov rulers.

By Bruce Holmes, for CNN

Editor's note: This story was originally published in March, 2013 and updated June 19 to coincide with the International Economic Forum.

(CNN) -- Several thousand of the world's most powerful people are in St. Petersburg this month for the city's annual International Economic Forum.

The only problem? While we at CNN Travel would be the last to deny that macroeconomics can be a thrilling subject for discussion, there also happens to be a bulbous onion-shaped dome's worth of once-in-a-lifetime type touristic distractions in Russia's spectacular "Paris of the East."

St. Petersburg showcases a vivid history from czarist Russia, through Communism (it was long called "Leningrad") to the present day.

Established in 1703 by Czar Peter the Great, Russia's second-largest city lives up to its reputation as the country's cultural capital, with astounding palaces, churches and museums.

Next Stop: Misssissippi Delta! Catch a sneak peak HERE

Next Sunday:We are in Mississippi -- nothigh cotton season, or tailgate college football season, or vegetable harvest,or blues festivals. It’s winter. It’s stark and yet we are here to unlock themany ghosts, stereotypes and tropes that prevail when we normally hear aboutMississippi.

Thanks for watching tonight!

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by katie.mclaughlin5/19/2014 12:38:05 AM

Getting to watch an episode with my Mom is like having her at a childhood soccer game. Thanks Mom, Happy Mothers Day. XO.